Aquaculture environment control apparatuses, systems, and methods

ABSTRACT

An aquaculture environment control system comprising a plurality of discharge conduits positioned in a vessel, the discharge conduits including one or more orifices; a fluid source in fluid communication with the plurality of discharge conduits; a gas supply source in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of discharge conduits; wherein discharging fluid from the plurality of discharge conduits into the vessel creates or maintains a current throughout fluid present within the vessel. A method of controlling an aquaculture environment comprising supplying one or more of a fluid and a gas to a plurality of discharge conduits positioned in a vessel; and discharging the one or more of the fluid and the gas from at least one of the plurality of discharge conduits to the vessel, the discharging creating or maintaining a current within the vessel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/290,718, filed Feb. 3, 2016, the contents of which is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

As the global population continues to climb and health trends encourageconsumption of fish and crustaceans such as shrimp, ocean marine lifepopulations worldwide are becoming depleted. According to the UnitedStates Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), per capita fishconsumption has increased from an average of 9.9 kg in the 1960s to 16.4kg in 2005. The FAO has since reported that in 2009 about 88% ofmonitored fish stocks were overexploited, depleted, recovering fromdepletion, or fully exploited, which has resulted in devastating impactsto aquatic ecosystems worldwide. For example, in January of 2016, almost300 species of fishes, clams, crustaceans were classified as eitherthreatened or endangered. Further, harvesting wild marine life requiresa large amount of fuel, about 620 liters per tonne of fish, whichexcludes the significant energy consumption for subsequent transport,cooling, and processing.

In recent years, aquaculture has been identified as a solution to theglobal marine sustainability crisis and a source of food for an everexpanding global population. This burgeoning industry includes theproduction and husbandry of aquatic plants and animals (e.g., fish,mollusks, and crustaceans) in controlled environments, such as tanks.Issues surrounding aquaculture have involved maintaining clean,efficient environments, maintaining a threshold level of dissolvedoxygen within the water, and, in some circumstances, creating watercurrent within the environment to satisfy the biological needs ofinhabitant organisms.

Issues surrounding aquaculture have also involved scalability. Whileshallow-water raceways can be designed, developed, and implemented aslaboratory-scale pilots, efforts to scale the pilots to, for example,commercially feasible dimensions have failed. The laboratory-scalepilots have used common airlift pumps and/or air-diffuser tubing tocreate and/or maintain required dissolved oxygen levels and/or createsufficient current to activate the raceway. However, when the samecommon airlift pumps and air-diffuser tubing have been used in scaleddesigns, the design has either completely failed, or the requireddissolved oxygen levels and current cannot be maintained. The amount ofhorsepower required to drive high volume, low pressure air pumps forthese types of scalable designs is not only inefficient, but alsocost-prohibitive. Moreover, no stock size piping exists that issufficiently large enough to convey the amount of air required for thesedesigns. The common airlift pumps and common air-diffuser tubing werefound to be inadequate for purposes relating to scalability.

FIG. 1 illustrates a commonly known air diffuser 100 utilized foroxygenating aquatic environments, which typically comprise an air source110 in fluid communication with a diffuser stone, disk, tube, or disc120. Air is directed through the diffuser 120 whereupon it is convertedto a plurality of bubbles 130 which are more easily dissolved into theaquatic environment and cause less disruptive environmental turbulencethan a single stream of air. Air diffusers suffer from the disadvantagethat the diffuser is highly susceptible to fouling, and requires a largevolume of air to sufficiently oxygenate an aquatic environment. Further,they produce little or no current.

Experimental aeration nozzles have been explored in academic settings asan alternative method for oxygenating aquatic environments, but in orderto generate sufficient oxygenation, their use can generate a highlydisruptive level of turbulence from discharge. Additionally,experimental aeration nozzles only provide current in a limited area andare not suitable for industrial scale vessels.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe an aquacultureenvironment control system, the system comprising a plurality ofdischarge conduits positioned in a vessel, the discharge conduitsincluding one or more orifices; a fluid source in fluid communicationwith the plurality of discharge conduits; a gas supply source in fluidcommunication with at least one of the plurality of discharge conduits;wherein discharging fluid from the plurality of discharge conduits intothe vessel creates or maintains a current throughout fluid presentwithin the vessel.

The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features, objects, andadvantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and fromthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate non-limiting example embodiments ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an air diffuser, according to the prior art.

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of an aquaculture environment controlapparatus, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of an aquaculture environment controlapparatus 200′ positioned within a vessel 260, according to one or moreembodiments.

FIG. 2C illustrates various embodiments of discharge conduit, accordingto one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of an aquaculture environment controlsystem, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic of an aquaculture environment controlsystem, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block flow diagram of a method of controlling anaquaculture environment, according to one or more embodiments of thisdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is described with reference to the attachedfigures, wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the figuresto designate similar or equivalent elements. The figures are not drawnto scale and they are provided merely to illustrate the invention.Several aspects of the invention are described below with reference toexample applications for illustration. It should be understood thatnumerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth toprovide an understanding of the invention. One skilled in the relevantart, however, will readily recognize that the invention can be practicedwithout one or more of the specific details or with other methods. Inother instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown indetail to avoid obscuring the invention. The present invention is notlimited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as some acts mayoccur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events.Furthermore, not all illustrated acts or events are required toimplement a methodology in accordance with the present invention.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for controlling an aquacultureenvironment which provide industrial scalability and enhancedenvironmental consistency. The systems and methods disclosed herein arenot limited by environment geometry or size, and further allow forheightened environmental control of current speed, inclusiondistribution, fluid temperature, and waste removal, among others.

In general, this disclosure describes embodiments of an aquacultureenvironment control system for controlling aquaculture environments. Inparticular, this disclosure describes embodiments that expedientlyintroduce fluid to generate currents and introduce inclusions at uniformrates in an aquaculture environment in such a manner that inhabitants ofenvironment are not disturbed.

The systems and methods described herein are suitable for controlling anaquatic environment in which many varieties of aquatic life can live andgrow, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. The systems and methodsdescribed herein can be utilized to raise aquatic life for commercialpurposes, such as in high volume. For example, the vessel can becontrolled to grow up to 3.0 kg of aquatic life per cubic meter. Thesystems and methods described herein can utilize shallow vessels (e.g.,as shallow as 0.03 meters) or deep vessels (e.g., 5 meters or deeper).An example of aquatic life is Litopenaeus vannamei. Alternatively, thesystems and methods described herein can be utilized to house or growhighly desired aquatic species, such as endangered species or highlyvalued species. Additionally or alternatively, the systems and methodsdescribed herein are suitable for controlling an aquatic environment inwhich aquatic plants can live and grow.

An aquaculture environment control system described herein can include aplurality of discharge conduits positioned in a vessel, the dischargeconduits including one or more orifices. The aquaculture environmentcontrol system described herein can include one or more of a fluidsource in fluid communication with the plurality of discharge conduitsand a gas supply source in fluid communication with at least one of theplurality of discharge conduits. The aquaculture environment controlsystem described herein can discharge fluid from the plurality ofdischarge conduits into the vessel to create and/or maintain a currentthroughout fluid present within the vessel.

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of an aquaculture environment controlapparatus 200 positioned within, or at least partially within, a vessel260. Apparatus 200 comprises a fluid supply pipe 251 in fluid connectionwith a discharge conduit 255. Fluid supply pipe 251 can comprise onepipe, several pipes, or a plurality of articles capable of deliveringfluid, such as water, to a discharge conduit 255. Discharge conduit 255can be positioned under a water level 161. In some embodiments dischargeconduit 255 can be positioned above the water level 161. Dischargeconduit 255 comprises one or more orifices 256 which will be describedin detail below. Fluid supplied from a fluid source, such as header 250,is directed to discharge conduit 255 via fluid supply pipe 251, andfluid is discharged through the one or more orifices of the dischargeconduit 255. An air supply source, such as air supply pipe 230 fluidlyconnects to the fluid supply pipe 251 upstream from discharge conduit255. In some embodiments the air supply pipe 230 can optionally connectto the fluid supply pipe 251 proximate to the discharge conduit 255. Airor gas is directed through the air supply pipe 230 and contacts theliquid in the liquid supply pipe 251 before being discharged through thedischarge conduit 255. Air or gas can be supplied via a pump orpressurized source, for example. In some embodiments, the air supplypipe 230 operates as a venturi and air or gas is drawn into the liquidstream by virtue of the movement of fluid within the fluid supply pipe251 and/or the geometry of the piping near the connection point betweenthe air supply pipe 230 and the fluid supply pipe 251. In suchembodiments, air supply pipe 230 comprises an open end 231 distal to theconnection end with the fluid supply pipe, such open end 231 beingpreferably oriented above the water level 161. Air or gas in allembodiments can comprise ambient air, pure oxygen, oxygen enriched air,or other gases which suit the needs of the aquatic system. Inembodiments comprising an open end 231 distal to the connection end withthe fluid supply pipe, the open end 231 is open to atmosphere and theair or gas comprises atmospheric air. In other such embodiments, the airor gas comprises whatever gaseous composition is ambiently presentproximate the open end 231 (e.g., oxygen enriched atmospheric air).

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of an aquaculture environment controlapparatus 200′ positioned within a vessel 260, wherein the apparatus200′ comprises a plurality of discharge conduits 255. FIG. 2B shows airsupply pipes 230A and 230B dedicated to each of the discharge conduits255A and 255B, respectively; however in some embodiments a single airsupply pipe 230 can service a plurality of discharge conduits 255.Apparatus 200′ accordingly discharges fluid into vessel 260 at aplurality of heights relative to the vessel bottom 261 via the pluralityof discharge conduits 255. In each apparatus 200 and 200′, the dischargeconduits 255, 255A, and 255B are shown oriented parallel to vesselbottom 261. In some embodiments a discharge conduit 255 can be angled orperpendicular relative to a vessel bottom 261, as will be described inmore detail below. In such embodiments, fluid can be discharged intovessel 260 at a plurality of heights relative to the vessel bottom 261via a single discharge conduit 255. Moreover, apparatuses 200 and 200′discharge fluid into vessel 260 at a plurality of distances relative toa proximate vessel side via one or more of discharge conduits 255, aplurality of orifices 256 (which will be described in detail below), orcombinations thereof.

FIG. 2C illustrates various alternative embodiments of dischargeconduits 255. Discharge conduit 255′ comprises a plurality of uniformdischarge orifices 256. A discharge conduit 255 can comprise any numberof orifices 256 based on the length of the discharge conduit 255 and thedesired orifice 256 size, for example. Orifices 256 are typicallycircular to for the sake of manufacturing convenience, although otherorifice shapes are suitable. The size of the orifice 256 can bedetermined based upon the pressure of the fluid supply and the desireddischarge velocity of the fluid, for example. Discharge conduit 255″comprises a plurality of variously sized orifices 256. In thisparticular embodiment, orifice size increases as a function of distancefrom the fluid supply pipe 251 (not shown) to account for fluid pressuredrop across the discharge conduit 255″ and accordingly provide asubstantially similar discharge velocity from each orifice. Similarly,orifice 256 sizes can be chosen to effect a varying discharge velocityfrom individual orifices.

FIG. 3A illustrates an aquaculture environment control system 300comprising one or more control apparatuses 301 (shown 301A and 301B)positioned within a vessel 360 and having a discharge conduit 355 (shown355A and 355B) in fluid communication with a fluid source 350 via fluidsupply pipes 351 (shown 351A and 351B). In some embodiments, all controlapparatuses are in fluid communication with a single fluid source 350,such as a header. In such embodiments, the inner diameter of the headercan reduce as distance from the fluid supply end of the header increasesto account for head loss and provide a more even fluid pressure at eachcontrol apparatus 301. In other embodiments, system 300 can comprise aplurality of fluid sources 350. Each control apparatuses 301A and 301Bis associated with air supply pipes 330A and 330B, however in alternateembodiments a plurality of control apparatuses 301 can be associatedwith a single air supply pipe 330. System 300 can optionally furthercomprise one or more fluid intakes 370 which can continuously orperiodically separate fluid from the vessel 360 for one or more ofprocessing, supplementation, recycling, or the like. In someembodiments, fluid intake 370 comprises a pump or like suction devicecapable of creating a pressure differential relative to the fluid invessel 360 and draw fluid out of the vessel 360. In other embodiments,fluid intake 370 separates fluid from vessel 360 gravimetrically byvirtue of its position (i.e., proximate the vessel 360 bottom). In someembodiments, fluid intake 370 utilized both induced pressuredifferential and gravimetric approaches to separate fluid from vessel360. System 300 can comprise fluid communication between one or morefluid intakes 370 and one or more fluid sources to facilitate recyclingof fluid. Embodiments herein typically require at least one fluid intake370, and additional fluid intakes 370 can be optionally incorporated. Insome embodiments, fluid intake 370 comprise a screen or solidscollection system to separate aquatic waste from entering the fluidintake 370.

The one or more control apparatuses 301 can be positioned within vessel360 at a position generally perpendicular to the proximal vessel wall361, although a precise perpendicular orientation between the dischargeconduit and the vessel wall is not required. In such an orientation,fluid discharged from the one or more control apparatuses 301 indirection 305 creates and/or maintains a generally circular current invessel 360. Direction 305 is not necessarily an absolute direction;rather, direction 305 describes a direction which is substantiallyconsistent with a desired current. Therefore where a circular current invessel 360 is desired, a control apparatus 301 associated with vesselwall 363 can discharge fluid in a direction 305 which is substantiallyopposite (e.g., 180 degrees) from the direction 305 of fluid dischargedfrom a control apparatus 301 associated with vessel wall 361. Fluiddischarged from the one or more control apparatuses 301 can additionallyor alternatively deliver inclusions to the vessel 360, as will bediscussed below. The velocity of fluid discharged from one or morecontrol apparatuses 301 can be varied to achieve a desired currentvelocity within vessel 360. Additionally, a minimum fluid velocity canbe set in order to achieve a desired level of scouring within thecontrol apparatus piping and components to prevent fouling. For example,a fluid velocity within a control apparatus 301 pipe can be between 2and 5 feet per second.

In order to achieve suitable current at all fluid depths within a vessel360 and/or uniformly introduce inclusions into a fluid body within thevessel 360, control apparatuses 301 can be positioned at a plurality ofheights relative to the vessel 360 bottom such that fluid is dischargedat a plurality of heights relative to the vessel 360 bottom.Accordingly, control system 300 is scalable to vessels of all depths.Additionally or alternatively, one or more discharge conduits 355 of theone or more control apparatuses 301 can be angled or perpendicularrelative to a vessel bottom 361, such that fluid is discharged at aplurality of heights relative to the vessel 360 bottom.

Circular current within a vessel 360 is further facilitated by the oneor more fluid intakes 370 by virtue of their orientation within thevessel 360 wherein the fluid intake direction of the fluid intake 370 issubstantially similar to the direction of fluid current within thevessel. System 300 can additionally or alternatively include a controlapparatus 301′ positioned at the downstream end of the proximal vesselwall 361 at a position generally parallel to the proximal vessel wall361. Fluid is discharged from control apparatus 301′ in a direction 305′which is consistent with a desired circular current maintained orcreated by one or more control apparatuses 301. In combination with oneor more control apparatuses 301, control apparatus 301′ further assistsin reducing fluid resistance by redirecting fluid flow at a vesselgeometry variation (i.e., a corner).

In some optional embodiments, all or a portion of the fluid dischargedfrom the one or more discharge conduits 355 is discharged at a slightangle relative to the proximal vessel wall 361 such that the fluidconverges upon the proximal vessel wall 361. For example, the fluid canbe discharged from the one or more discharge conduits 355 at an angleabout 1 degree, about 2.5 degrees, about 5 degrees, about 7.5 degrees,or about 10 degrees relative to the proximal vessel wall 361. Theproximal vessel wall can include an outer wall, a partition, or apartitioning geometry as will be described below. A slightly angledfluid discharge capably creates and/or maintains a generally circularcurrent while also encouraging aquatic waste aggregation at theperiphery of the vessel. Such aggregation beneficially purifies theaquatic environment within the vessel 360 and further simplifies theremoval of aquatic waste. Aquatic waste can include excrement, urine,molt, unconsumed feed, and other undesired species within a vessel. Moltrefers to discarded bodily growths, and can include molted exoskeletons,such as those from crustaceans, scales, claws, nails, and the like.

Angled fluid discharge can be achieved in a number of embodiments,individually or in combination. In a first embodiment, the fluid source350 is angled relative to the proximal vessel wall 361. In a secondembodiment, the one or more control apparatuses 301 are angled relativeto the proximal vessel wall 361. In a third embodiment, fluid dischargedfrom the one or more discharge conduits 355 is angled relative to thedischarge conduit. Angled fluid discharge relative to a dischargeconduit 355 can be achieved by altering the bore angle of an orifice(not shown in FIG. 3), and/or incorporating a discharge directingelement such as a fin on the surface of the discharge conduit 355. Insome embodiments, where a discharge conduit 355 comprises a plurality oforifices, only a portion of the orifices can configured to provideangled fluid discharge.

FIG. 3A illustrates a system 300 wherein one vessel wall 361 isphysically associated by one or more control apparatuses 301 and/or301′, however in other embodiments, one or more control apparatuses 301and/or 301′ can be associated with two or more vessel walls (e.g.,vessel walls 361, 362, 363, 364, and combinations thereof). The numberof vessel walls associated with one or more control apparatuses 301and/or 301′ can be determined based on vessel periphery geometry. Forexample, for a long and narrow rectangular vessel periphery geometry, itmay be sufficient or desirable for the one or more control apparatuses301 and/or 301′ to associate the two long vessel walls. As shown, one ormore control apparatuses 301 and/or 301′ can originate from an outerwall of the vessel 360. In other embodiments, one or more controlapparatuses 301 and/or 301′ can originate from an inner partition 310 ofthe vessel 360. In some embodiments, one or more control apparatuses 301and/or 301′ can originate and/or be associated with a plurality of outervessel walls (e.g., outer walls 361 and 363). Accordingly, in suchembodiments, the length of the one or more control apparatuses 301and/or 301′ can extend up to the length of the vessel 360. In someembodiments, the length of the one or more control apparatuses 301 is upto half of the length of the vessel 360, or up to the distance betweenproximate wall 361 and partition 310, in order to generate a circularcurrent within the vessel 360. In some embodiments, the one or morecontrol apparatuses 301 can span the entire length of the vessel 360. Insome such embodiments, orifices of the discharge conduit 355 can bepositioned to discharge fluid in two different directions, as shown indischarge conduit 255″″ with orifices 256 in FIG. 2C. In suchembodiments, two separate groupings of oppositely positioned orificescan span a vessel center line, partition, or partitioning geometry inorder to facilitate circular current within the vessel 360.

The number and placement of control apparatuses 301 and/or 301′ can bedetermined based on the need for current generation, and the ability toefficiently and/or uniformly deliver inclusions to the vessel 360. Forexample, deep tanks may require control apparatuses 301 and/or 301′ at aplurality of vertical positions to ensure uniform and/or suitablecurrent flow and/or inclusion delivery at substantially all vessel 360depths. Accordingly, embodiments described herein provide industrialscalability for all conceivable tank geometries.

Similarly, FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 wherein two vessel walls 362and 364 are comprise one or more fluid intakes 370, however other inother embodiments, three or more vessel walls (e.g., vessel walls 361,362, 363, 364, and combinations thereof) can comprise one or more fluidintakes 370. The number of vessel walls comprising one or more fluidintakes 370 can be determined based on vessel periphery geometry. Forexample, for a square vessel periphery geometry it may be desirable forthe fluid intakes 370 to be positioned on three or more walls to assistin current creation, and/or as necessitated by waste removal needs.Additionally, it can be desirable to include many fluid intakes 370 insystem 300 such that vessel aquatic conditions (e.g., salinity) can bequickly adjusted to suit the needs of vessel 360 aquatic inhabitants, aswill be described below.

As relating to all embodiments herein, the periphery geometry of avessel can comprise square, rectangular, circular, and other polygongeometries such as an irregular hexagonal geometries. Vessel 360periphery geometries can be selected in consideration of manufacturingmethod or materials of construction, for example. Vessel peripherygeometries can additionally or alternatively be selected to facilitateor reduce disruption to current within the vessel. For example, acircular geometry, an ovular geometry, or an irregular hexagonalgeometry formed by beveling the corners of a rectangular geometry caneach minimize or eliminate undesired turbulence or eddies. For example,turbulence in the corner of a vessel may cause undesired spread ofaccumulated waste. Further, beveled or rounded vessel corners can reducecurrent resistance and require less power consumption by the systempumps in order to achieve a desired current velocity. While the aboveembodiments have been described as utilizing a rectangular vesselperiphery geometry, it is understood that all such embodiments arepracticable with the various periphery geometries now described.Additionally or alternatively, while the above embodiments have beendescribed as utilizing vessel walls oriented perpendicularly to vesselbottoms, other orientations of walls are suitable. In some embodiments,a vessel 360 can comprise a natural or man-made body of water, such as apond.

The vessel can optionally include a partition to encourage desiredcurrent flow. In one embodiment, a vessel includes a planar partition310, as shown in FIG. 3, positioned proximate the center of the vessel360 in a generally vertical orientation to create a circular currentpath. Planar partition 310 can extend throughout the entire verticalextent of a fluid within the vessel 360, or alternatively a portionthereof. A planar partition can be suitably substituted with athree-dimensional partition, such as a cylindrical structure. While theabove described embodiments have included a circular current pattern,other flow patterns are similarly practicable. For example, a series ofpartitions can be utilized to form a serpentine current path. Such anorientation can be desirable where a single, large vessel iseconomically or spatially preferable to a plurality of smaller vesseland smaller environmental spaces are desirable for inhabitant aquaticlife, for example. Partitions can further be used to secure dischargeconduits in a preferred orientation (e.g., distance from vessel bottomand/or orientation angle to proximal vessel wall).

The vessel 360 bottom can optionally comprise partitioning geometry.Vessel bottom partitioning geometry can be utilized in addition to or asan alternative to partitions. Examples of partition geometry include anadir or apex incorporated into the vessel bottom. In the case of eithera nadir or an apex, the vessel bottom can be divided into a plurality offaces which slope down or up, respectively, from an associated vesselside wall. For example, for a vessel having a rectangular peripherygeometry, a vessel bottom can comprise two faces which intersect in anadir or apex. Similarly, for a vessel having a rectangular peripherygeometry, a vessel bottom can comprise four faces which intersect in anadir or apex. In such an embodiment, the vessel bottom can comprisefour triangular vessel bottom faces, or, alternatively, two triangularvessel bottom faces and two rectangular bottom faces.

A vessel bottom comprising a nadir or apex can be used in combinationwith or in the alternative to angled fluid discharge to assist inaggregating waste within the vessel, as described above. It will beunderstood that a nadir vessel bottom orientation will likely aggregatewaste at the nadir (e.g., near the center of the vessel), and an apexvessel bottom orientation will aggregate waste near the periphery of thevessel. A vessel bottom comprising an apex and greater than two bottomfaces (e.g., a vessel having a rectangular periphery geometry and abottom comprising four faces) can further provide enhanced encouragementof circular current by reducing fluid resistance. Vessel bottom apexesand nadirs can also be utilized in circular tanks, for example, whereinthe vessel bottom will comprise a generally convex and concave,respectively, conical shape.

As illustrated in FIG. 3B, system 300 optionally comprises one or moreof a fluid treatment system 380, a temperature modulator 385, one ormore inclusion introducers 390, and one or more sensors 395. In someembodiments, system 300 is a closed-loop system, wherein fluid iscontinually introduced into and removed from vessel 360. In otherembodiments, system 300 is a partially closed-loop system, wherein aportion of the fluid removed from vessel 360 via the one or more fluidintakes 370 is separated from the fluid cycle and the remaining portionis recycled.

System 300 and related methods can utilize fluid discharge from one ormore control apparatuses 301 and/or 301′ to deliver inclusions to anaquatic environment within a vessel (e.g., vessel 360). Inclusions caninclude one or more of temperature controlled fluid, salt, biofloc,aquatic feed, air or gases, antimicrobial compositions, pH regulators,and carbon sources. Biofloc includes a protein rich aggregate of organicmaterial and micro-organisms including bacteria, protozoa, algae, andthe like. Antimicrobial compositions can include antibiotics,antivirals, and antifungals, for example. Specific antiviralcompositions include those described in PCT Application No.US2015/041592. Examples of pH regulators include sodium bicarbonate,among many others, and can be used to control the alkalinity and acidityof an aquatic environment. Carbon sources include simple sugars,molasses, and glycerin, among many others. A plurality of inclusions canbe introduced from the same fluid source 350. Alternatively, a pluralityof fluid sources can be used to introduce inclusions. Utilizing aplurality of control apparatuses 301 and/or 301′ to deliver inclusionsto an aquatic environment within a vessel (e.g., vessel 360)advantageously allows for uniform and expeditious distributionthroughout the vessel 360, and reduces shock to aquatic life withinvessel 360 by eliminating highly concentrated pockets of inclusions at asingle or few introduction points. Accordingly, conditions within vessel360 can be highly controlled while minimizing detrimental aspects ofknown inclusion delivery (e.g., single-point feed introduction).Similarly, the temperature of an aquatic environment within a vessel 360can be controlled via the temperature modulator 385. Temperaturemodulator 385 can comprise a heat exchanger, a cooler, a heater, orcombinations thereof. As with introduction of inclusions, modifying thetemperature of an aquatic environment via a plurality of controlapparatuses 301 and/or 301′ reduces temperature shock to aquatic lifewithin vessel 360, particularly as compared to systems that modifytemperature using a single fluid introduction site.

In some embodiments, conditions within the vessel 360 can be automated.One or more sensors 395 can comprise salinity sensors, temperaturesensors, particulate sensors, and the like. A salinity sensor can beused to detect an undesired salinity level within vessel 360 andcommunicate with an inclusion introducer 390 such that a level of saltadded to fluid source 350 via inclusion introducer 390 can be modified.Further, water treatment system 380 can be utilized to filter fluidremoved from vessel 360.

In some embodiments, system 300 can comprise a plurality of vessels 360.The plurality of vessels 360 can be stacked vertically such they atleast partially overlap. Vessels 360 can be stacked to efficientlyutilize space in a facility, to facilitate transfer of aquatic life fromone vessel to another, or to facilitate the removal of waste and/orharvested aquatic life.

As relating to all embodiments herein, the aquaculture environmentcontrol systems described herein provide unprecedented scalability. Theaquaculture environment control systems described herein can be designedfor low volume purposes, such as for non-commercial purposes, ordesigned for high volume purposes, such as for large-scale commercialpurposes. The aquaculture environment control systems described hereincan achieve water management objectives, including, but not limited to,dissolved oxygen and desired currents. The aquaculture environmentcontrol system has the ability, power, and flexibility to facilitateturning the current at vessel widths of greater than 12 feet. Inaddition, additional vessel length is only dependent on one or more ofpumping capacity, pipe dimension, and venturi count necessary to achieveone or more water management objectives. The width and length of thevessel of the aquaculture environment control system can be designedbased on, for example, one or more of water management objectives,spatial constraints, and target production amounts at harvest.

As relating to all embodiments herein, the dimensions of the vessel ofthe aquaculture environment control system are too numerous to berecited herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would readilyunderstand the dimensions, including the broad range thereof, capable ofachieving the one or more water management objectives. In someembodiments, the vessel can be about 3 feet in width by about 12 feet inlength. In some embodiments, the vessel can be about 9.5 feet in widthby about 14 feet in length. In some embodiments, the vessel can be about9.5 feet in width by about 37 feet in length. In some embodiments,vessels can be about 12 feet in width by about 600 feet in length with 8vessels stacked vertically and each vessel having a capacity of holdingabout 55,000 gallons. As relating to all embodiments herein, the heightof the vessel can be freely chosen and the water depth is limited onlyby the height of the vessel. In some embodiments, the water depth can begreater at a side of the vessel and smaller at an apex of the vessel.

As relating to all embodiments herein, the aquaculture environmentcontrol system can assist and/or facilitate the harvest process. In someembodiments, the aquaculture environment control system can assistand/or facilitate driving aquatic life to one or more harvest ports.

As relating to all embodiments herein, an aquaculture environmentcontrol system can further comprise a cleaning solution source in fluidcommunication with one or more of the plurality of discharge conduits.In some embodiments, the cleaning solution source is in fluidcommunication with the one or more plurality of discharge conduits viaone or more of the associated fluid supply pipe or one or more valves,such as an in-line inclusion valve. The aquaculture environment controlsystem can circulate and/or recirculate a cleaning solution to clean theaquaculture environment control system, including each of the pipes andvessels. In this way, the aquaculture environment control system can beself-cleaning. The aquaculture environment control system can be cleanedto satisfy and/or be in compliance with water quality and food safetystandards.

In some embodiments, one or more of the following steps can be used toclean the aquaculture environment control system: expelling one or moreof remaining salt water, aquatic life, and waste from the vessel andsupplying a cleaning solution from a cleaning solution source to anaquaculture environment control system. Expelling can include removingeverything from the aquaculture environment control system that is notdesired for cleaning. Supplying can include one or more of opening avalve and pumping the cleaning solution from the cleaning solutionsource. In some embodiments, the drain valves can be closed before,during, or after supplying the cleaning solution to the aquacultureenvironment control system. In some embodiments, the drain valves can beclosed before opening the valve from which the cleaning solution issupplied. In some embodiments, the cleaning solution is pumped throughthe aquaculture environment control system either after orcontemporaneously with the closing of the drain valves and opening ofthe valve from which the cleaning solution is supplied. In someembodiments, the cleaning solution travels throughout the aquacultureenvironment control system one or more times to thoroughly clean andrinse the aquaculture environment control system before restocking. Insome embodiments, the cleaning solution can include one or more ofozonated fluids and disinfectants.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block flow diagram of a method of controlling anaquaculture environment, according to one or more embodiments of thisdisclosure. A method 400 of controlling an aquaculture environment caninclude supplying 401 one or more of a fluid and a gas to a plurality ofdischarge conduits 402 positioned in a vessel 403; and discharging 404the one or more of the fluid and the gas from at least one of theplurality of discharge conduits 402 to the vessel 403, the dischargingcreating or maintaining a current within the vessel.

What is claimed is:
 1. An aquaculture environment control system, thesystem comprising: a plurality of discharge conduits positioned in avessel configured to house one or more aquatic organisms, the dischargeconduits including one or more orifices; a fluid source in fluidcommunication with the plurality of discharge conduits; a gas supplysource in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality ofdischarge conduits; wherein discharging fluid from the plurality ofdischarge conduits into the vessel creates or maintains a currentthroughout fluid present within the vessel, wherein at least a portionof the fluid discharged from one or more of the plurality of dischargeconduits is discharged at an angle relative to a proximal vessel wallsuch that the fluid converges upon the proximal vessel wall.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of dischargeconduits are positioned within the vessel at a position perpendicular toa proximal vessel wall.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein one of theplurality of discharge conduits is positioned at the downstream end of aproximal vessel wall at a position generally parallel to the proximalvessel wall.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of dischargeconduits are positioned within the vessel at a position perpendicular toa proximal vessel wall.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality ofdischarge conduits are positioned within the vessel at a plurality ofvertical positions relative to a vessel bottom.
 6. The system of claim1, further comprising a fluid supply pipe in fluid communication withone or more of the plurality of discharge conduits and one or more ofthe fluid source and the gas supply source.
 7. The system of claim 6,wherein the gas supply source comprises an open end distal to theconnection end with the fluid supply pipe located above a fluid level inthe vessel.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or morefluid intakes.
 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or moretemperature modulators that modulate temperature within the vessel. 10.The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more inclusionintroducers that deliver one or more inclusions to the vessel.
 11. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising one or more fluid treatmentsystems that treat fluid within the vessel.
 12. The system of claim 1,further comprising one or more sensors that sense one or more propertiesof a fluid within the vessel.
 13. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a partition that facilitates a current within the vessel. 14.The system of claim 1, wherein a bottom of the vessel comprises apartitioning geometry.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein thepartitioning geometry comprises an apex or a nadir.
 16. The system ofclaim 13, wherein one or more of the plurality of discharge conduitscomprises a plurality of orifices.
 17. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a cleaning solution source in fluid communication with one ormore of the plurality of discharge conduits.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein discharging the cleaning solution from the one or more of theplurality of discharge conduits into the vessel cleans an aquacultureenvironment control system.
 19. A method of controlling an aquacultureenvironment, the method comprising: supplying, via at least one fluidsource, a fluid to the plurality of discharge conduits positioned in avessel configured to house one or more aquatic organisms; supplying, viaat least one gas source, a gas to the plurality of discharge conduits;and discharging one or more of the fluid and the gas from at least oneof the plurality of discharge conduits to the vessel, the dischargingcreating or maintaining a current within the vessel, wherein at least aportion of the fluid discharged from the plurality of discharge conduitsis discharged at an angle relative to a proximal vessel wall such thatthe fluid converges upon the proximal vessel wall.
 20. An aquacultureenvironment control system, the system comprising: a plurality ofdischarge conduits positioned in a vessel configured to house one ormore aquatic organisms , the discharge conduits including one or moreorifices; a fluid source in fluid communication with the plurality ofdischarge conduits; a gas supply source in fluid communication with atleast one of the plurality of discharge conduits; wherein dischargingfluid from the plurality of discharge conduits into the vessel createsof maintains a current throughout fluid present within the vessel, andfurther comprising a cleaning solution source in fluid communicationwith one or more of the plurality of discharge conduits.